Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

Seeing, the end why we are vnited to the flesh of Christ is, that being quickened by it we may liue a life eternall, by what meanes is the flesh of Christ, that is, the hu∣manitie, quickening vs?

Not by habituall grace, (as they speake in schooles) but by grace onely of vnion, not by any vertue ingrafted into the flesh it selfe, as if the power of quickening were really powred forth into the flesh of Christ, or this were adorned with it in it selfe, or that life were in it selfe, or quickening in it selfe, for it is a proper∣tie incommunicable of the godhead alone to quicken: For as Cyril saith: It agreeth to God alone, to be able to quicken that which is void of life.b 1.1.

But first, by reason of vnion, because it is the proper flesh of the word, quickening all things, (as speaketh the Synode of E∣phesus:) eyther because the word is the fountaine and authour of life, being life it selfe, dwelleth in it, not onely 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is after operatiue maner, as he is said to dwel in those that be his, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is in a bodily manner, personally: or because, that flesh is so streightly vnited to the essentiall life, that these two na∣tures do make one subsistence, or because this man is essentially God: from whence it commeth to passe, that the death of that flesh, because it is the flesh of the sonne of God, hath beene pre∣tious inough to obtaine life for vsc 1.2. And Cyrill saith that, That the flesh is not quickening in it selfe, but in the word Hypostatically vnited vnto it.

* 1.32 In regard of the merite of obedience, whereby Christ (a sacrifice being offered in his flesh giuen for vs vpon the Crosse) obtayned eternall life for all beleeuers. Iob. 6.51. My flesh is the living bread, which I will giue for the life of the world.

3 In respect of our copulation with Christ: because we cannot come vnto God, the fountaine of life, and that eternall life, but by that flesh of Christ comming betweene, that is, vnlesse by the ef∣ficacie of the holy Ghost we be made members of Christ, engraf∣ted into his flesh by faith.

Therefore that which is said Iohn. 6.63. The flesh profiteth no∣thing, is not to be vnderstood simply of the flesh of Christ, but

of carnall opinions, not agreeing with the mysterie of the eating of Christs flesh.

Notes

• b 1.1

  De Recta Fide ad Reginas
• c 1.2

  Act. 20.28
• * 1.3

  vppon Iohn 10, 13